Se contabilizan los hechos económicos en cuentas diferentes a las

you.”(2^nd Peter3^1-15)

There has been large scale flooding in various countries of the world including Japan, United States of America, New-Zealand, Haiti and others, between 2011 till date. The 2012 floods in Nigeria began in early July and has killed 137 people and displaced 120,000 as of ninth of September 2012. In spite of the warnings and sensitization by the mass media concerning the widespread flooding that was to ravage Nigeria, several Nigerians narrowly escaped the direct impact of the flood.

It is so easy to blame the people of Noah’s day each time the Holy Scripture is read but so also are all the people building on flood plains, along drainage channels or developing housing estates on land reclaimed from the ocean.

Man unfortunately disbelieves a lot of life giving, poverty alleviating and pains relieving instructions. Studies in geology reveal that there has been several episodes of flooding on the earth, one of which took place in the days of Noah.

“Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upwards, and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that

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moved on the earth: birds, and cattle, and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man” (Genesis 7^17-21).

Geology reveals that limestone, one of the widely distributed mineral resources worldwide, are known to be mostly formed in ancient seas (Qicheng and Jingyuan). One wonders if they were formed resulting from the flood in Noah’s days or could there have been a flood prior to that of Noah’s time? The scripture specifically talks about the earth standing out of water and in the water and the world perishing through flooding.

According to geology, seas give rise to mountains and lands of the past are also changed into seas. It is recorded that about 30 million years ago, a strong crustal movement took place which caused the rapid rising of the Himalayas.

The fact that “seas changed into fields” was mentioned in ancient Chinese classics over a thousand years ago (Qicheng and Jingyuan, 1985). Fossil records show that the wide area where the Himalayas stands today was a turbulent sea pertaining to the ancient Mediterranean sea about 30m.y. ago.

There are disasters that man can avert but natural disasters remain as predicted in the Word of God. It is on record (This Day newspaper, 31^st October 2012), that the disaster experienced in the US on account of the Super Storm, Sandy surpassed previous experiences. According to New York governor, they have not seen something like that in a generation. The cost of clearing is put at about 30- 40 billion dollars. New York subway was to remain shut for a while.

More than 40 people died, and about 8million people had to go without electricity for a couple of days. Concerning floods, there is the promise of God in the scriptures that the entire human race will no longer be destroyed by flood. Just as the case is presently, some will die on account of flooding but certainly not the entire human race, at a go.

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“Thus I establish my covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth” (Genesis9¹¹).

As stated in the scriptures in 2^nd Peter 3^10-11, the earth is reserved for fire and the elements will melt with fervent heat; the earth and the works in it will be burned up and dissolved, being on fire.

Geologic observations make us understand that strong earthquake causes great loss of lives and property and if accompanied by tsunami, the destruction is increased due to flooding. Volcanic eruption also begins with sounds like thunder under the ground and the earth shakes. The hot gases, ashes and stones, are launched high into the air from the crater, the volcano is covered with a great volume of fiery clouds ranging to several kilometers; red hot lava pours out from the crater and spills downhill. Mixed with gases and water vapor, ashes fall on the ground, forming hot debris flow which is powerful enough to destroy and burry buildings on the ground. In 79 A.D. debris from the explosion of Vesuvius volcano of Italy buried, two busy cities – Pompeii and Herculaneum. This seems like the fire the bible is talking about. We better believe it so we can prepare for the rapture.

Today in the world, dormant faults are suddenly becoming active. In 2011, 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit Washington D.C. and the impact was felt in New York. Shaking was felt at the White House, the north central parts of the Pentagon, White House and Capitol were evacuated. 4.2 magnitude shock was felt in Virginia. Earthquake of such magnitude has not happened in Washington D.C. in a century. The last time earthquake took place in New York was in 1884.

God in his wisdom has allowed the man he created a great deal of time to believe the bible. Table 1 shows the magnitude and number of earthquakes in

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the world for a period of ten years, table 2 shows the death toll, while table 3 indicates volcanic eruption and the eruption start date, in various countries.

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” (Mathew 24

6-7).

Wars in Africa are man-made disasters very closely related to mineralization and mining. Geologists know and appreciate better, the natural resources of any people and the sentimental, economic and political attachment of the people to the resources. They also know the adverse effects of the exploitation of such resources on the people. Government can prevent ethnic, tribal, regional and international clashes that lead to the loss of revenue and lives by seeking the advice of geologist in matters of boundary adjustment, resource exploration, exploitation and revenue allocation.

Table 1 The Magnitude and Number of Earthquakes for a Period of Twelve years.

Magnitude ranging between

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

8-9.9 1 1 0 1 2 1 2 4 0 1 1 1

7-7.9 14 15 13 14 14 10 9 14 12 16 21 19

6-6.9 146 121 127 140 141 140 142 178 168 144 151 182

5-5.9 1344 1224 1201 1203 1515 1693 1712 2074 1768 1896 1963 2200 Total 1505 1361 1341 1358 1672 1844 1865 2270 1948 2057 2136 2401

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

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Table 2. The Date, Death toll and Location of the Earthquakes.

Rank Magnitude Death toll Location Date

1 9.0 15,828 Tohoku, Japan March 11

2 7.9 0 Honshu, Japan March 11

3 7.7 0 Honshu, Japan March 11

4 7.6 0 Kermadec Islands, New

Zealand

July 6

5 7.4 0 Kermadec Islands, New

Zealand

October 21

6 7.3 0 Honshu, Japan March 6

7 7.3 0 Ndoi island, Fiji September 15

8 7.2 2 Pakistan January 18

9 7.2 0 Aleutian Islands, Alaska,

United States

June 23

10 7.2 604 Van, Turkey October 23

11 7.1 0 Araucania Region, Chile January 2

12 7.1 4 Honshu, Japan April 7

13 7.1 0 Port ville, Vanuatu August 20

14 7.1 0 Lae, Papua new guinea December 14

15 7.0 0 Santiago del Estro,

Argentina

January 1

16 7.0 0 Loyality islands January 13

17 7.0 0 Honshu, Japan July 10

18 7.0 0 Port ville, Vanuatu August 20

19 7.0 0 Isangel, Vanuatu September 3

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

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Table 3 Volcanic Eruption in Various Countries and Eruption start Date

Volcano Country Eruption start date

Grimsvotn Iceland 2011 Katla Iceland 2011 Puyehue Chile 2011 Planchon-peteroa Chile 2011 Turrialba Costa Rica 2011 Telica Nicaragua 2011 Cleveland United States 2011 Klichevskoi Russia 2011 Bezymianny Russia 2011 Aso Japan 2011 Kirishima Japan 2011 Karangetang-[api siau] Indonesia 2011 Lokon-empung Indonesia 2011 Soputan Indonesia 2011 Merapi Indonesia 2011 Marapi Indonesia 2011 Aoba Vanuatu 2011 Rabaul Papua New Guinea 2011 Tofua Tonga 2011 Nabro Eritrea 2011

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San Cristobal Nicaragua 2010 Dec 15 Tengger caldera Indonesia 2011

Tungurahua Ecuador 2010 Nov 26 Kizimen Russia 2010 Nov 22 Bulusan Philippines 2010 Nov 11 Krakatau Indonesia 2010 Nov 11 Barren island Philippines 2010 Nov 6 Etna Italy 2010 Aug 25 Manama Papua New Guinea 2010 Aug 10 Ulawun Papua New Guinea 2010 May 26 Concepcion Nicaragua 2009 Dec 11 Villarrica Chile 2009 Nov 22 Poas Costa Rica 2009 Nov Huila, Nevado Dell Colombia 2008 Oct 26 Tinakula Solomon Island 2008 Sep 19 Reventador Ecuador 2008 Jul 27 Ambry Vanuatu 2008 May 23 Ibu Indonesia 2008 Apr 5 Soufriere hills United kingdom 2005 Apr 15 Popocatepetl Mexico 2005 Jan 9 Suwanose-Jima Japan 2004 Oct 23 Nyiragongo DR Congo 2002 May 17 Fuego Guatemala 2002 Jan 4

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Karymsky Russia 2001 Nov 15 Bagana Papua new Guinea 2000 Sep 16 Shivelush Russia 1999 Aug 15 Colima Mexico 1997 Nov 22 Erebus East Antarctica 1972 Dec Seremu Indonesia 1967 Aug 31 Erta ale Ethiopia 1967

Sakura-jima Japan 1955 Oct 13 Sangay Ecuador 1934 Aug 8 Dukono Indonesia 1933 Aug 13 Santa Maria Guatemala 1922 June 22 Yasur Vanuatu 1977

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

In spite of the earthquake and volcanic eruption records above, the end of the world has only come upon those that died while the survivors may have described their experiences as tribulation.

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be”(Mathew24²¹).

Tribulation is already widespread worldwide and can assume any dimension and style. It ranges from death in abandoned mine ponds, through road mishaps resulting from the ill maintained roads in places like Nigeria, to kidnappings and armed robbery, ritual murder and bombings.

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“Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man (Genesis 9 ⁶).

Divorce, rape, petrol scarcity, high cost of kerosene and a whole lot of man’s inhumanity to man are part and parcel of end -time tribulations. This is not the original plan of God because the bible says;

“As for you be fruitful and multiply; Bring forth abundantly in the earth And multiply in it” (Genesis 9⁷).

Some researches on earthquakes are being carried out by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD), and the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.

Professor U. A. Lar of the Department of Geology and Mining also led a multi disciplinary research team in 2007 and completed an Unpublished Report on the geological mapping of volcanoes in Nigeria. Under his supervision related researches are also ongoing by Ph.D. students in the Department. These researches should be encouraged and funds released. They help confirm the scriptures and offer some assistance in natural disaster monitoring and prediction. Disaster monitoring and public enlightenment reduce the impact of natural disasters. As a matter of fact there are volcanoes in Nigeria as was mentioned under the section on the Geology of Nigeria. If the volcanoes decide to become active, research can reveal it, but no man can stop it.

Nigeria lies in a relatively “stable” mobile belt sandwiched between the West African and Congo cratons on the African continent. It has not experienced a major earthquake or volcanic eruption in recent times but has however experienced several earth tremors in locations covering all geopolitical zones.

(Ugodulunwa and Ogezi, 1986; Elueze, 2003; and Ologun & Onwusulu, 2005).

Ajakaiye, in 1989 and Ogezi, in 2008, have warned that Nigeria should not be

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complacent concerning the possible occurrence of earthquakes. These suggestions are worthy of note given the experience of an earthquake in the United States of America (USA), in 2011; as mentioned earlier, the fault had been inactive since a century.